After all the problems encountered by conference-mate Ohio State last season with players selling rings, jerseys and autographs, is putting this kind of temptation in front of college students in the best interest of the university?

The article I linked to has players saying that they can’t imagine their teammates will sell the jerseys because they’re so special to them.

But it also says that Michigan had planned on auctioning the game-worns and that tons of replicas of the jersey had been sold, meaning the market for the jerseys they’re giving the players is going to be high. It may prove that the offers the players receive for their jerseys are too tempting to pass up.

It seems like Michigan is taking an unnecessary risk by taking this step. Trusting the life of your program to the moral fortitude of 80 18-22 year-olds doesn’t seem like the smartest step for a college of Michigan’s stature.

The risk-reward here is so high that I can’t imagine why they’d even take the chance.

Or am I being too pessimistic?

Maybe the Ohio State and Miami debacles have left me assuming the worst and I’m looking for demons where there are none.